Sheet-metal pipe section



SMm/wtoz I .Z Z fizz/ 072072 L. E. PRITCHARD SHEET METAL PIPE SECTION Filed Oct 9 1924 l /utmeoo 7 4- M Mama 1, W2.

mea

LESLIE E. PRITCHARD, OF NILES, OHIO.

SHEET-METAL PIPE SECTION.

Application filed October 9, 1924. Serial N'o. 742,653.

To'all whom it may concern."

Be it known that I, Lnsnre E. PRITGHARD, a citizen of the United States, residing at N1les, in the county of Trumbull and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and: useful Improvements in Sheet-Metal Pipe Sectlons; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the inyention, such as will enable others skilled Q in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My inventio relates to improvements in sheet metal pipe sections. primarily stove pipe sections, which are shipped with open seams, so that a number of sections may be nested one Within another.

It is the object of the invention to provide a new and improved form of tongue andslot connection between the edges of a pipe section which will tenaciously hold said edges together and cannot be accidentally released.

With theforegoing in view, the invention resides in the novel subject matter hereinafter described and claimed, the description being supplemented by the accompanying drawing. 0

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a stove pipe section constructed in accordance with so my invention. the seam being open.

Figure 2 is a partial perspective view showing the seam closed.

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view on line 3-3of Fig. 2. L

Figure 4 is a perspective view illustrating the action which takes place when the improved type of tongue is forced through its receiving slot. 1

' In constructing the improved pipe section, I make use of a rectangular metal sheet 1 which is transversely curved to facilitate engagement of one of its edges with the other, one end of the sheet being preferably crimped as indicated at 2 and provided with the usual rib 3, for the well known reasons.

One edge of the sheet 1 is given a double bend to provide a relatively deep and narrow channel 4 which is adapted to'receive the other edge 5 of the sheet. At suitable intervals, the portion'6 of the metal, which connects the inner and outer sides 7 and 8 of the channel, is formed with slots 9, leaving portions 10 of the inner channel side 7 free 11(1) yield inwardly between the ends of the s ots.

The edge 5 of the sheet 1 is provided with integral, projecting tongues 11 which are adapted for insertion through the slots 9. when said edge is positioned in the channel 4. Each of these tongues is provided with a laterally stamped. rib 12, said rib extending longitudinally of the tongue and being spaced inwardly from the longitudinal edges of the latter. The inner end of the rib 12 forms an abrupt shoulder 13 to engage the inner edge of the laterally yieldable portion 10, and the rib and tongue diverge from the free end of the latter to said shoulder. This divergence provides a wedge formation for the rib 12. so that as the tongue 11 is forced into the channel 4: and through the slot 9, said rib will laterally spring the portion 10 of the channel side 7 as illustrated clearly in Fig. 4. This lateral springing of the portion 10, permits the rib to readily pass said portion and when such passage has taken place, said portion 10 immediately snaps back to its normal position, thereby abutting the shoulder 13 and positively locking the tongue 11 against withdrawal from the slot 9. Attention may here be directed to the fact that the rib 12 engages only the intermediate part of the flexible portion 10,

which part is free to spring laterally, this being a marked advance over the construction disclosed in the prior patent above referred to, in which this unhampered lateral yielding could not be carried out, due to the formation of the tongue. I

Excellent results have been obtained from the details disclosed and they are therefore preferably followed. However, within the scope of the invention as claimed, minor changes may of course be made.

I claim:

A pipe section comprising a transversely curved metal sheet bent at one edge to provide a relatively narrow and deep channel adapted to receive the other edge of the sheet, the side-connecting portion of the channel having a longitudinal slot, leaving a portion of one side of said channel free for lateral yielding between the ends of the slot: said other edge of the sheet being'provided with a projecting tongue for passage through said slot, said tongue having a laterally too stamped longitudinal rib spaced inwardly to said shoulder to form a wedge for laterfrom its longitudinal edges, the inner end of ally springing the intermediate part of said said rib forming an abrupt shoulder to abut yieldable channel side portion when said 10 the inner edge of said laterally yieldable tongue is forced through said slot.

5 portion of said one channel side when the In testimony whereof I have hereunto tongue is within the slot, said rib and tongue affixed my signature.

diverging from the outer end of said tongue LESLIE E. PRITGHARD. 

